MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management

Program Information

Key Statistics

100% would recommend the program to others interested in graduate school

100% of students stated education experiences fulfilled their expectations

100% of students say they have received good career preparation

Program Overview

The Nonprofit Leadership and Management Program is designed for nonprofit professionals who are asking:

How do I maximize my impact?

How do I lead my nonprofit successfully in a world of scarce resources?

How do I master the art of change management?

How do I discover who I am as a leader?

The program is designed for individuals who want to be part of an intentional learning community of practitioners and scholars who are embedded in the field. It offers an integrated course of study that melds state-of-the-art leadership theory with proven management models, strategies and tools designed to teach professionals how to create and manage high-performance organizations.

The curriculum is focused on applied learning, which facilitates the transfer of knowledge from theory to practice. Each semester students produce organizational audits, governance documents, development plans, legislative campaigns, design research-based programs and evaluation models, and create community-organizing campaigns (among other products). In the process students learn how to be politically and technically proficient in bringing best practices to nonprofit organizations and philanthropies. Many of these products are housed in an online library of best practice resources used by thousands of practitioners across the country.

Through:

Scholarship. We educate the best to be the best

Service. We provide hands on assistance to nonprofits and philanthropies

Points of Distinction

A student body comprised largely of nonprofit professionals who have proven leadership ability.

Courses offered during evening hours and some weekend days, which allow students to work full time while attending the program.

A close-knit learning community that convenes regularly outside the classroom to build on the learning experience.

Access to an active network of local professionals, including members of our advisory board, who represent some of the most prestigious public, private and nonprofit entities in the county.

Students enrolled in the MA in Nonprofit Leadership and Management are eligible to enroll in courses at the Franciscan School of Theology. These courses would count as elective units.

What can I do with this degree?

The goal of this program is to provide existing and aspiring nonprofit practitioners with practical tools that can be used to create successful nonprofit organizations. Alumni are assistant, associate and executive directors of nonprofits as well as consultants, executives, development officers, program managers and more.

Who should apply?

This program is appropriate for nonprofit professionals, many of whom will work full-time while completing the program. The program has a strong preference for applicants with at least four years of professional work experience.